Dispenser for collapsible tubes

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for collapsible tubes which includes an elongate flexible plastic support for the collapsible tube which engages the opposite sides of the tube with the cap and dispensing end of the tube extending through a central aperture therein. The flexible member has rows of generally rectangular apertures formed adjacent the opposite side edges thereof to serve as a rack. A pair of tube squeezing rollers are journaled in a housing adapted to engage over the flexible member with the tube therein. Each of the tube squeezing rollers has a sprocket gear on each end thereof with the gears engaging in the rack on the flexible member. A hand crank on one end of one roller is provided for rotating the roller so that the housing moves downwardly on the flexible member with the rollers squeezing the front and rear of the flexible tube to dispense the contents therefrom.

Elite v Goings States Patent [1 1 DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBESHarford E. Goings, 5428 Center Dr., Camp Springs, Md. 20031 [22] FiledfNov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,433

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack,Jr.

Attorney-Alexander B. Blair [57] ABSTRACT A dispenser for collapsibletubes which includes an elongate flexible plastic support for thecollapsible tube which engages the opposite sides of the tube with thecap and dispensing end of the tube extending through a central aperturetherein. The flexible member has rows of generally rectangular aperturesformed adjacent the opposite side edges thereof to serve as a rack. Apair of tube squeezing rollers are journaled in a housing adapted toengage over the flexible member with the tube therein. Each of the tubesqueezing rollers has a sprocket gear on each end thereof with the gearsengaging in the rack on the flexible member. A hand crank on one end ofone roller is provided for rotating the roller so that the housing movesdownwardly on the flexible member with the rollers squeezing the frontand rear of the flexible tube to dispense the contents therefrom.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures D D U Cl U DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present inventionrelates to flexible tube dispensers of the type for forcing the contentsof a flexible tube therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A flexible tube dispenser in which a geardriven pair of squeezer rollers are moved downwardly over a flexiblemember supporting a collapsible tube therein with the flexible memberhaving a rack for engagement by gears on the gear driven rollers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensivecollapsible tube dispenser having a forced speed for ejecting thecontents of the tube therefrom.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flexible member shown in elongate formprior to folding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing indetail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures the reference numeral indicates generally acollapsible tube dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention.

The collapsible tube dispenser 10 includes an elongate flexible member11 having an aperture 12 formed therein intermediate the opposite endsthereof and intermediate the opposite sides thereof. Apertures 13, 14are formed at opposite ends of the flexible member 11 to receive agrommet 15 to secure the opposite ends of the flexible member 11together.

A plurality of generally rectangular apertures 16 are formed along eachside edge of the flexible member 11 in an evenly spaced row to form arack generally indicated at 17. A collapsible tube 18 is positioned withits cap 19 extending through the aperture 12 with the tube 18 lyingbetween the opposite sides of the flexible member 11. A generallyrectangular housing 20 includes a pair of end walls 21, 22 arranged inspaced apart parallel relation and a pair of side walls 23, 24 arrangedin spaced apart parallel relation and extending between the end walls21, 22 and integrally connected thereto. The housing 20 is open at itstop and bottom and is adapted to engage over the flexible member 11 withthe collapsible tube 18 supported therein. A tube squeezing roller 25 isjournaled in the housing 20 and has a spur gear 26 rigidly secured toeach end thereof for engagement in the rack 17. A second tube squeezingroller 27 is journaled in the housing 20 in opposed relation to the tubesqueezing roller 25 and similarly carries a pair of spur gears 26 on itsopposite ends for engagement with the rack 17. A hand crank 28 isrigidly securd to the tube squeezing roller 27 to permit the roller 27to be rotated by turning the hand crank 28.

In the use and operation of the invention the grommet 15 is hung on asuitable hook to suspend the collapsible tube dispenser 10 at aconvenient point. With the spur gears 26 engaged in the racks R7 thehand crank 28 is turned after opening the cap 19 and the tube squeezingrollers 25, 27 move downwardly to press the flexible member 11 inwardlyon opposite sides of the collapsible tube 18 to force the contents ofthe tube 18 out of the lower end thereof. After a suitable quantity hasbeen dispensed from the collapsible tube 18 pressure on the hand crank28 is released and the cap 19 is replaced with the dispenser 10remaining on its hook until again needed. Following the completecollapsibling of the collapsible tube 18 with all of its contentsremoved the tube 18 is removed from the flexible member 11 and a newtube 18 is inserted with the housing 20 then starting from the upper endof the tube dispenser 10 for dispensing from the new tube.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tube dispenser comprising an elongate flexible plasticmember for engaging the opposite sides of a collapsible tube andsupporting the collapsible tube therebetween, a housing, means in saidhousing for engaging over the flexible member with the collapsible tubetherebetween for squeezing the flexible member to thus squeeze theflexible tube, a plurality of rack forming apertures formed in rows downthe opposite side edges of said flexible member and hand rotatable spurgears on said housing engaged in said rack for moving said housingdownwardly while squeezing the contents of the flexible tube outwardlytherefrom.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein squeeze rollers are journaledin said housing and said spur gears are rigidly mounted on said squeezerollers.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a hand crank is rigidlysecured to one of said rollers for rotating said one of said rollers andthe spur gears secured thereto.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided on saidflexible member for supporting said collapsible tube dispenser.

1. A collapsible tube dispenser comprising an elongate flexible plasticmember for engaging the opposite sides of a collapsible tube andsupporting the collapsible tube therebetween, a housing, means in saidhousing for engaging over the flexible member with the collapsible tubetherebetween for squeezing the flexible member to thus squeeze theflexible tube, a plurality of rack forming apertures formed in rows downthe opposite side edges of said flexible member and hand rotatable spurgears on said housing engaged in said rack for moving said housingdownwardly while squeezing the contents of the flexible tube outwardlytherefrom.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein squeeze rollers arejournaled in said housing and said spur gears are rigidly mounted onsaid squeeze rollers.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a handcrank is rigidly secured to one of said rollers for rotating said one ofsaid rollers and the spur gears secured thereto.
 4. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein means are provided on said flexible member forsupporting said collapsible tube dispenser.